Episodes

May 5, 2021

Blue Valentine w. Esmé Weijun Wang

We unpack the big feelings that fuel Blue Valentine—which is not Blue Velvet (though it is at once similarly and differently heavy)—with Esmé Weijun Wang. You can find Esmé on Twitter and Instagram. You can find Esmé online here!

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May 3, 2021

BONUS EPISODE: Room 237 [Patreon Bonus]

Inspired by our conversation about The Shining, we talked Kubrickian conspiracy theories and Room 237 with our pal Patrick McGinty. This was originally a Patreon bonus episode, but since we took last week off we figured we'd treat y'all to …

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April 29, 2021

Here's a "week off" message from Sarah

We're taking this week off, but here's a quick hello from Sarah! We'll be back next week! In the meantime you can find us on Twitter, Instagram and Patreon.

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April 21, 2021

Pretty Woman w. Maggie Rose

Heartwarming hilarity ensues when a quirky sex-worker helps a corporate raider get over his daddy issues. Join us and special guest Maggie Rose in conversation about Pretty Woman. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Instagram.

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April 14, 2021

Rain Man w. Eric Michael Garcia

We discuss all things Rain Man—from the plentitude of dad issues to the many things it got wrong about autism—with journalist Eric Michael Garcia. Bonus: We also love on Oliver Sacks super, super hard. Eric's book We Are Not Broken: …

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April 7, 2021

The Shining (page to screen!)

We take a close look at The Shining—both the Stephen King classic and the Stanley Kubrick classic—and discuss Jack Torrance's multiple shortcomings in the fatherhood department. We made a playlist to accompany this episode!

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March 31, 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2 w. Fangirl Jeanne

It is about good dads and bad dads; present dads and absent dads; biological dads and adoptive dads. Join us as we discuss Marvel dads and daddies, space losers, mediocre white dude heroes, and Guardians of the Galaxy with Fangirl …

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March 24, 2021

The Silence of the Lambs w. Harmony Colangelo

Clarice Starling was a revelation while the portrayal of "Buffalo Bill" became a bane for many trans people coming of age. The impeccably constructed film is the gold standard of copaganda. We unpack The Silence of the Lambs' complicated legacy …

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March 17, 2021

The Lord of the Rings with Talia Lavin

A few Halfling hippies assemble an eclectic fellowship and go on the adventure of a lifetime. Dads and daddies abound. We talk Hobbits, fan fiction, thirsting for Viggo, and The Lord of the Rings with our pal Talia Lavin.

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March 10, 2021

Clueless with Kristofer Thomas

One time in the 1990s a scary litigator melted the hearts of millions of kids by reminding his daughter that "you divorce wives, not kids." We discuss Mel Horowitz—the loveliest shouty dad in popular cinema—Cher, Josh, Tai, Murray,

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March 3, 2021

The Wrestler w. Gaby Dunn

It's a movie about a big, messy sweetie who can't get out of his own way and all of the folks who suffer as a result. We talk The Wrestler, alcoholic dads, and more with the wonderful Gaby Dunn. You …

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Feb. 24, 2021

Muriel's Wedding with Laura Lippman

An effervescent dark comedy that addresses the crushing nature of patriarchy while also paying tribute to ABBA on a number of levels? We gushed about Muriel's Wedding with the endlessly marvelous Laura Lippman. You can find Laura's books here,

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Feb. 17, 2021

The Dark Knight with Aubrey Gordon

A bunch of men have competing views on how best to parent their city, though they all agree the task of dadding around is a thankless, back-breaking, and secretive operation. A lovable anarchist literally tells the Bat Dad that they …

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Feb. 14, 2021

Bonus Episode: Death (and other stuff)

We're putting last week's episode of Shootin' the Shit w. Why Are Dads [our Patreon bonus series] over here on the main feed because it sounds like a lot of y'all are dealing with some of that heavy-heavy and a …

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Feb. 10, 2021

10 Things I Hate About You with Sanpriti Ireland

10 Things I Hate About You is Shakespeare seen through a 90s teen comedy lens and it remains such a treat. Along with special guest Sanpriti Ireland, we talk about Kat, her over-protective dad, Heath Ledger,

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Feb. 3, 2021

Fargo with Clementine Ford

A group of men have some feelings, don't know what to do with them, and get everyone around them into a big mess. Sound familiar? We discuss Fargo, what me mean by "straight men", and the great Marge Gunderson with …

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Jan. 27, 2021

Citizen Ruth with Candace Jane Opper

Is it possible that sometimes folks get so carried away in representing their causes that they overlook the humanity of the people about whom they purport to care? We discuss the criminally underrated Citizen Ruth, the abortion debate,

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Jan. 20, 2021

Saw, the Sawniverse, and Sad Dads with Jamelle Bouie

A series about a broken, sad man who expects way way more from everyone around him? Who lives by a convoluted code? The Sawniverse is about a perpetually disappointed dad and all of the kids who break themselves trying to …

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Jan. 13, 2021

Magnolia (Dads Can Be Very a Lot) with Emma Copley Eisenberg

We are joined by Emma Copley Eisenberg for a discussion about intersections of fate, Aimee Mann, the enduring beauty of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and one of the most sprawling movies about unpacking dad relationships of all time!

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Jan. 6, 2021

Teachable Moments, Trauma, and why "Bean Dad" struck a nerve

We meant to take this week off but then a thing happened. Musician, podcaster and public personality John Roderick struck a collective nerve by telling a story about his daughter, beans, and a can opener. In doing so he became …

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Dec. 30, 2020

Moonstruck with Madame Clairevoyant

We are joined by Claire Comstock-Gay (AKA Madame Clairevoyant) for a discussion about the cuckoo-bananas masterpiece that is Moonstruck. Fate! Stars! Chaos! Love! Lust! 80s New York! Men are wolves and they are afraid of death. This one has it …

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Dec. 23, 2020

Feeling Feral and Batman Returns

Attention-seeking, resentment, a healthy desire for retribution, and boundless parallels to the Trump debacle. Also, is Batman Returns in fact the most anti-corporate superhero movie ever made? Join Sarah and Alex as they unpack all this and more.

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Dec. 16, 2020

Abandonment Fears and Home Alone w. Anne Thériault

Join Sarah, Alex and guest Anne Thériault as they discuss abandonment issues and anxieties about the horror of the 'urban' being unleashed upon the suburbs and threatening THE CHILDREN. This week's movie, of course, is Home Alone.

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Dec. 9, 2020

Oh, Fudge: A Christmas Story w. Mara Wilson

Join Sarah, Alex and guest Mara Wilson as they discuss "gleaming sex", deranged easter bunnies, and Jim Jones' connection to the America portrayed in the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story. You can find Mara on Twitter and on Instagram.

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